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Park in the village square, Place des Écoles, very close to the church and the aptly named Rue du Pic.
The route is not signposted. The route begins in the heart of the village, through the streets. Use the street signs to find your way.
(S/E) Cross the square to reach Rue de la Gaille to the east, where, at number 7, you’ll find a pretty old fortified building, flanked by two square towers with narrow windows (probably former arrow slits), known as ‘Le Château’ (which is not the Château de Montgrenier). One of these towers is particularly elegant, with its machicolated battlements. The building also features a beautiful studded door surmounted by a wrought-iron balcony, a more recent addition.
Take a look at the rear of the building via the start of Chemin de Pédarque.
Continue along Rue de la Gaille towards the north-west. Leave all the perpendicular streets on your left. At the Fork in the road, leave the street on your right and continue to the left, then straight on to No. 14.
(1) Take the small path that starts between nos. 12 and 14. Walk north-east for a few dozen metres until you reach a junction.
(2) Turn left and head for the summit of the rocky outcrop, known as “Le Castel”, at an altitude of 468 m. A cross on the summit faces the village. There is a lovely view over the village streets to the south.
Retrace your steps to the crossroads and turn left onto a shaded path.
Continue roughly eastwards for about 200 m until you reach another junction.
(3) Turn right, still under dense foliage. You’ll reach a tarmac road, the Chemin de Pédarque (which leads to “Le Château” in the village centre at its end).
Walk for about 200 m until you reach the crossroads, the start of the path to the Pic de Montgailhard or Pain de Sucre.
(4) A sign indicates the peak is 1 km away (0h30). The real ascent begins from here. 30 m after the junction, take a detour to the right, climbing steeply to reach a major geological fault hidden in the forest. Above it lies the village’s drinking water reservoir. Retrace your steps and resume the ascent.
The ascent takes you just over half a lap around the peak, entirely through the forest. The path emerges from the forest onto the southern face shortly before a junction.
(5) Then turn right onto the serrat (the ridge), staying on the path. Go round the final rock from the right (east) and reach a rock overlooking the peak from its northern face. There is a beautiful view over the valley and as far as Foix and its castle, situated at the confluence of the Arget and Ariège rivers.
Retrace your steps and go round the summit to the right (west). You’ll reach a summit marker and a recently installed orientation board.
From here, there is a stunning 180° view from east to west. Farthest to the left is Roquefixade Castle, nearly 9 km away, in Tarascon-sur-Ariège, via Montségur.
For the return journey, complete the short circular loop around the summit and head back to the junction.
(5) Continue straight down, heading due south. Almost at the bottom of the hill, the path meets the Chemin de Costebelle, goes round the base of the hill and heads back towards the north-west. The path reaches the village via Rue du Tartie, next to the cemetery. Turn left immediately onto the street. At the end of the street, continue along the very narrow path, which leads out onto Rue de la Roucateille at No. 17.
Turn right and continue to the Place des Écoles (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Difficult 
